LYMAN – Kurt Manufacturing in Lyman has been presented with its second Patriotic Employer Award from Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR).

ESGR is a federal agency within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs. Agency members offer education to employers across the country to ensure they have company policies in place that facilitate employee participation in the nation’s military reserve programs.

The agency also recognizes employers who do a superior job in working with employees who are in active military service. The nomination for an award comes from the employees themselves.

From its beginnings in the 1950s, Kurt Manufacturing has been producing hydraulic hoses and couplings for use in a wide variety of industries, including local agriculture.

“I’ve had the privilege of delivering about 15 Patriotic Employer Awards over the past 10 years,” said ESGR local representative Judy Amoo. “Our service men and women who feel their employers have gone above and beyond the call of duty in securing and protecting their jobs are the ones who make the nominations.”

She added the award is extra special when both the employer and the person making the nomination are there for the presentation. That’s because many times, the nominating employee is elsewhere on deployment.

Receiving the award for Kurt Manufacturing on Sept. 27 was Jay Deitz, the company’s manufacturing manager. The nomination came from employee Zac Hays, who’s in the Navy Reserve and was on hand for the award presentation.

“Every time I’m gone it’s a pretty big burden on the rest of the office,” Hays said. “Jay has always been very supportive of me while I was on duty.”

This is the second time Kurt Manufacturing has received a Patriotic Employer Award from ESGR. The first came about six years ago.